Steam Frame Release Date Leak Suggests Launch Could Happen Next Month

With further leaks and developer impressions, the Steam Frame has been making headlines as a new standalone VR headset. While it is still unclear what the device will do, recent comments speculate that it could handle heavy PC VR workloads while keeping its form factor compact. Further details from developers and content creators also suggest an earlier-than-anticipated launch window.

It's been a big question ever since: how would the Steam Frame fare with standalone AAA PC VR games? A VR developer who's been working on the title Convergence has posted some early VR testing screenshots from the Steam Frame dev kit, offering deeper insight into what VR may be capable of.

Play A-Z - Steam Frame Performance With AAA PC VR Games

According to the developer, Convergence is a PVE extraction shooter, inspired by Stalker, with real-time lighting, high-quality textures, high-poly models, and physics-heavy interaction systems. The game is designed around elements typically available only on PC VR gear, the developer says.

Going into the test, the expectation was that the game would be around 5 fps in standalone mode. Once the game was installed and just run without Steam Frame optimization, however, the results were said to be more playable than expected on low graphics settings. Although the game wasn't yet meeting the 72 fps verification requirement, it impressed the developer with its early performance results.

As of yet, these initial impressions indicate that bigger PC VR games could also work on Steam Frame, despite the issue with the VR headset's specs. There has been a lot of speculation about whether such small hardware could support the same kinds of games as Half-Life: Alyx, but the developers' feedback suggests that this is the kind of game Valve intended for this hardware.

The Steam Frame Release Date is set for Next Month

There's also been a hint of a release date for the Steam Frame, as it was said to have been received by VR content creator Gamertag VR. The message explained a new program that will bring together content developers with VR game bundle deals, and that the first VR collection would be created to tie in with the release of the Steam Frame next month.

There hasn't been any official word from Valve; however, based on the wording, it seems the headset may arrive sometime next month rather than this month. It also brings questions of when Valve will actually release its Steam Machine plans. With the recommended timeframe in mind, it is suggested that another hardware announcement from Valve may come before the Steam Frame launch. Until now, the release date information should remain unverified; however, since Valve hasn't confirmed anything yet.

Steam Frame is available for free download on PC.

Steam Frame has been described by developers and early testers as comfortable, and a new side-by-side comparison with the Valve Index gives us a better idea of its physical size. The image compared shows a clearly smaller Steam Frame than the Index. Over longer VR sessions, this reduced footprint may be crucial when using a headset meant for independent use. The Steam Frame is also very movable because it doesn't take up much space.

Unlike the bigger VR headsets connected to a PC, this one seems to strike a balance between portability and VR use on its own.  Initial feedback on the headset's size made people more aware of how comfortable it might be to wear for longer periods, which led to a study on the subject. People's initial thoughts on the headset's size have sparked a study into how comfortable it might be to use for extended periods.